what courage looks like

Our family went to see the movie "Courageous" this past Monday night, and it was amazing. This is a great movie from a wonderful group of Christians in Georgia (they also made the movies "Fly Wheel", "Facing the Giants" and "Fire Proof"). The conversation after the movie was incredible. My kids shared insight that blew us away.

What an awesome opportunity with my in-laws, my wife and our kids. It is a story of a family who decided to live with courage even when there were opportunities or temptation to compromise. There were moments of big laughs and moments of tears.

As a believer we have choices every day that bring our success or failure. Those choices speak of our character or the lack thereof. To live with courage is to stand against the flow of normal culture. It is to be kind and strong. It is to stand for things outside of our control that are bigger than us. It is to take God at His word.

Have you ever had someone tell you that Christians are weak? Going to church and sharing our faith doesn't make us weak. It makes us stronger than we are alone. Connecting to God is where real courage comes in. The choices we make and the words we use have consequences that go far beyond the here and now. Some are eternal. Some will be realized while we are on earth.

Courage faces a lion head on. Courage kicks fear to the curb. Courage stops to help the person on the side of the road or to help the person who has no hope. Courage steps in when others step out. Courage holds others accountable.

My desire is to be a dad who loves my kids with courage. I desire to be a husband who lives with courage and treats my wife life the precious gift she is. My passion is to be a pastor who leads with courage and is willing to go places that others will not go and minister to people that most churches won't help.

Are you willing to live with courage?

1 Chronicles 22:13 NLT

For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the LORD gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!

I am honored to be part of a small team traveling today to the Los Angeles Dream Center. In the coming 6 days we will experience some of the things that the LA Dream Center has seen and how God has worked.

Over the past 17 years, Pastor Matthew Barnett has planted a church and opened a ministry that has doors that never close. They are helping people who few others help. Maybe you see a bit of my heart in what I am saying about Matthew.

In the coming days The Community Dream Center will become a reality in our community where we will be able to meet the needs of hurting, hungry and homeless people in bigger ways than we have before. It is only with taking what some may consider steps of faith and I say are steps of courage that we will see this dream become a reality. This excites me and gets my motor going.

What is a Dream Center? It is a place where people can take a deep breathe, spend some time resting and learning, and then begin to reach for their dreams.

I love to see men live with courage. I am addicted to people's lives being changes. It is an honor to serve people who are hurting, but I don't have a choice. When I don't live with courage, I will miss the opportunity to be who God made me to be. When I live with courage, when you live with courage, you and I help others step up and be courageous.

This is what courage looks like.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you

why is it Good Friday?

Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation. We come to Friday. The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good? Jesus was treated as a criminal. He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him. His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure. That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the Passion of the Christ . Yet it is a good day. It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart. What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me: He is Redemption and Redeemer He too our Pain and Punishment He is our Righteousness and Reality He is the Savior and Life All of those happened from the cross. It was meant for the worst lawbreakers. It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law. It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus. Look

Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba. Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve. Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba. There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met. No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more. These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana. On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours. We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours. We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good. We visited two partner churches. In the morning we were with one church that

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